Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

the evening of the 24th of November, he heaved a
deep sigh, and ejaculated, "Now it is come." His
friends desired of him a sign that he died in peace,
whereupon, says the chronicler of his last hours,
"As if he had received new strength in death, he
lifted one of his hands towards heaven, and sighing
twice, departed with the calmness of one fallen into
sleep."[5]
The two master-qualities of Knox were faith
and courage. The fundamental quality was his
faith, courage was the noble fruit that sprang from
it. The words of Regent Morton, spoken over his
dust, have become proverbial, "There lies one who
never feared the face of man." John Knox never
feared man because he never mistrusted God. His
faith taught him, first of all, a fearless submission
of his understanding to the Word of God. To this
profound submission to the Bible we can trace all
the noble and rare qualities which he displayed in
his life. To this was owing the simplicity, the
clearness and the vigor of all his views, his uniform
consistency, and that remarkable foresight which to
his countrymen appeared to approach almost to
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